‘Story of Schools’ nearing its debut via digital channels

After a series of delays — and a rethinking of its distribution format — the “Story of Schools” will soon leave its subcommittee for review by the full regional School Committee.

The project is one avenue the school board is taking to “highlight the good” stories coming out of the district after receiving criticism for its communication with the broader community last school year. That criticism grew after the Anti-Defamation League released a bombshell report alleging repeated and unchecked antisemitic behavior within the schools.

The initial plan was to mail a print version of “Story of Schools” to residents in Acton and Carlisle. Now, the committee is pushing a digital rollout, supported by 100 printed copies for distribution at libraries, town offices, and community events.

“This year, we really focus on digital efforts and then see what makes sense in the future,” Carrie Rankin, chair of the Communications Working Group, said in the September 25 meeting. 

Distribution ideas include placing ads in local newspapers, adding a QR code in the town meeting briefing book, and handing out postcards with the QR code at events.

At that meeting, the Communications Working Group said the draft publication, a professionally designed booklet full of information about Acton schools, is nearly complete after months of delays. 

“I think the most important thing is to get it out [on] the district website,” School Committee and Communications Working Group member Brian Waterson said at the September meeting, adding that the bigger challenge will be to get it to people who don’t normally access the district’s usual channels of communication. 

The group is still finalizing how the physical copies will be printed. Superintendent Laurie Hunter said they could be produced in-house, but they wouldn’t have the same polished look as copies printed professionally. 

The full committee is expected to see the draft document at its October 8 meeting.